Electric signal device.



Patented May l3, I902.

T. J. HOOVER. ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

3 8heets-Sheei I.

(No Model.)

mm mm ow Q E Pm b v m v Wm mm m 1w NA mm avwe/wbot T. J. Hoover WWI bum Patented May l3, I902.

T. .1. HOOVER. ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

(Application filad $61M!A 20, 1901.)

3 Shaets-Sheet 2 (No ModeI.)

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Na. 699,841. Patented May 13, I902.

T. J. HOOVER.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 23 mm mwwbo z ma I Hoover ll lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. HOOVER, OF CARLINVILLE, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,841, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed September 20, 1901. Serial No. 75,705. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. HOOVER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Carlinville, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Electric Signal Device,of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming fication.

The object of my invention is to provide an electric signal device for the protection of a bridge or other portion of a railway-track which will set a semaphore or visual signal at each side of the bridge or other portion of the track for warning the engineer of an approaching train and also to sound an audible signal at suitable signal-stations, preferably the two nearest railway-stations at the ends of the bridge or other portion of the track which it is desired to protect.

My invention consists in part in the combination, with a railway-track, of a semaphore and an automatic circuit-closing switch in line with said semaphore for closing the circuit through the same when the said track is injured.

My invention also consists in various other novel features and details of construction, all of which are described in the following specification and pointed out in the claims affixed hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a signal device made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View showing the device applied to the bridge of a railwaytrack. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the semaphores shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of part of the mechanism shown in. Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4 1 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of two of the circuit-closing switches and the connections between same. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of protecting the piers or abutments of the bridge. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the manner of applying the device to detect the spreading of the rails of the track, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the connections for use with the device shown in Fig. 7.

part of this speci- Like marks of reference refer to similar parts in the several views of the drawings.

10 represents the railway-track, and 11 the bridge supporting a part of the same. Arranged at some distance from each end of the bridge are two semaphores 14. and 15. These semaphores should be arranged at such distance from the ends of the bridge that the engineer of an approaching train will have sufficient time to stop the train before reaching the bridge after seeing the signal displayed by the semaphore. Beyond the semaphores 14 and 15 are arranged two signal-stations l6 and 17, which are preferably the two regular railway-stations nearest to the ends of the bridge or other. portion of the track which it is desired to protect.

Arranged at the ends of the bridge 11 are two solid anchor-supports 18 and 19, which should be at such a distance from the bridge that they are not liable to be washed by flood or in any other way injured by accidents which are liable to happen to the bridge. Secured to the anchor-support 19 are two wires 20 and 21, the opposite ends of which are connected to automatic circuit-closing switches 22 and 23, which will be more fully hereinafter described. The circuit-closing switches 22 and 23 are connected to the anchor portion 18 by means of wires 24 and 25. The wires 20 and 21 are preferably protected by means of tubes 26 and 27, so that the wires cannot be tampered with to give false signals.

Each of the circuit-closing switches 22 and 23 consists of a casin g of hard rubber or other insulating material, in which are contained two curved contact-springs 28 and 29. (See Fig. 5.) The springs 28 and 29 are provided at their central portion with grooves in which slides the tube 30, of insulating material. Within each of the tubes 30 is a rod 31, which is connected to one of the Wires 24 or 25. Surrounding each of the rods 31 is a coilspring 32, which bears at one end against the casin g and at the other against a conical block 33, of copper or other good conducting material, which surroundsthe said rod31. The position of the block 33 is regulated by means of a nut 34. on the threaded end of the rod 31. The wire 20 is connected to the spring 28 in each of the switches 22 and 23, and the wire 21 is connected to the springs 29 in each of said switches,as is most clearly shown in Fig.5. Leading from the wire 20 to the signal device is a wire 36, and the wire 21 is grounded by means of awire 37. It is veryimportant that the wire 36 be thoroughly insulated, as otherwise there is liability of said wire making electrical connection with the ground, and thus giving a false signal both at the semaphore and at the signal-station. It will be evident that when a strain is brought upon one of the wires 20 or 21 the casing will be slid along the tube 30 until the springs 28 and 29 come in contact with the cone 33 and that the circuit will then be closed from the wire 36 to the ground-wire 37.

Placed between the wires 20 and 21 are suitable number of wires 38, in which are contained thermostats 39 of any usual form. It will be evident that when the thermostats become heated, as by the bridge catching on fire, the circuit will be closed between the wires 20 and 21, and hence that the current can flow from the wire 36 to the ground-wire 37.

In order to give warning in case the piers should be washed away without afiecting the upper structure of the bridge, I attach to the Wires 20 and 21 wires 20, which lead down into the piers and are secured therein, as shown in Fig. 6.

The wire 36, leading from the wire 20, extends to the semaphore 14 and is attached to an electromagnet 40. From the electromagnet 40 the wire 36 leads to the signal-station 16, where it is attached to a switch 41. The electromagnet 40 is provided with an armature 42, pivoted at its lower end, which normally supports a weighted lever 43. The lever 43 is secured to the shaft 44 of a beveled gear-wheel 45. This beveled gear-Wheel 45 meshes with a second beveled gear-wheel 46, secured on the lower end of a shaft 47, carrying the semaphore-arm 48. It will be evident that when the lever 43 is released by the movement of the armature 42 the said lever will move downward by gravity and will rotate. the wheel 45, which will in turn rotate the wheel 46, and consequently move the semaphore arm 48 in a direction pointing across the track, so as to indicate to the engineer of an approaching train that the bridge is not in condition to be crossed. After the semaphore-arm has been moved in position to indicate that the bridge is out of order the same is preferably locked in this position by means of a spring-actuated pin 49 in an opening in the lower face of the gear-wheel 46. This locking-pin can be manually removed from the opening in the gear-wheel when the semaphore-arm is reset. The lever 43 in its downward movement is also adapted to strike against a pin 50, carried on a switch 51, and close the said switch. This switch is cont ained-in a circuit 52, in which is situated a battery 53 or other suitable source of electrical energy. The circuit 52 also leads through an electric lamp 54, adapted to perform the same service as the semaphore-arm 48 when it is too dark for the said arm to be seen. The lever 43 is provided with a projection 55, which when the lever falls is adapted to enter a spring-contact 56, and thus close the circuit through a wire 57, leading to the semaphore 15, the lever 43 being electrically connected to the wire 36 by means of a wire 58. The lever 43 is adapted to be manually reset by means of a pin or handle 59, Figs. 2 and 3.

The switch 41 of the signal-station 16 is connected, by means of a wire 60, with an electromagnet 61. After passing through the magnet 61 the said wire is connected to the pivoted armature 62 of the said magnet 61. The armature 62 supports a pivoted lever 63,which when released is adapted to engage with a spring-contact 64, and thus close a circuit 65, including a bell 66 or other audible signal and a battery 67 or other suitable source of electric supply. The circuit is connected to the ground by means of a wire 68, Fig. 1.

The semaphore 15 is similar to the semaphore 14, except that the circuit through the battery 53 is closed by the engagement of the projection 55 of the lever 43 with a springcontact 70, corresponding to the switch 51 of the semaphore 14, and the contact 56 is dispensed with, as there is no necessity for leading the circuit to another semaphore. It will of course be understood that the arm 43 in place of being connected to the wire 36 will be included in the circuit 52. (Shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.) The signal-station 17 is in all respects exactly similar to the signalstation 16 and needs no separate description.

The operation of my signal is as follows: Whenever the bridge is injured from any cause, strain will be put upon one of the wires 20 or 21, which will cause it to close the circuit between the wire 36 and the ground-wire 37. The current will then flow from the Wire 36 through the electromagnet 40 to the signal-station 16 and thence through the magnet 61, armature 62, lever 63, and bell 66 to the battery 67, and thence to ground by the wire 68. This will cause the magnet 40 to draw the armature from under the lever 43 and at the same time cause the magnet 61 to draw the armature 62 from the lever 63. As the lever 43 drops it will actuate the semaphore-arm 48 and at the same time close the circuit 52, causing the lamp 54 to be lighted. It will also cause the wire 36 to be electrically connected to the wire 57 by means of the engagement of its projection 55 with the springcontact 56. This will cause the semaphore 14 and signal-station 17 to be operated, as will be hereinafter described. When the armature 62 is drawn away from the lever 63, the same will drop into engagement with the contact 64 and will thus short-circuit the battery 67 through the bell 66, which will thus continue to ring until the lever 63 is manually reset. It will be obvious, however, that as long as connection is maintained between the wires 20 and 21 the lever 63 will not remain IIO reset, for whenever it is reset current will be closing the circuit through said second semestablished through the magnet 61, and the armature 62 will be again withdrawn from the lever. In order to obtain this result, I provide the switch 41, which can be thrown to break the circuit when the lever is manually reset. As soon, however, as the bridge is repaired and the circuits are brought to their normal position this switch should be again closed or the signal device will fail to operate. After connection has been established between the wire 57 and the wire 36 in the manner above described the electromagnet'etO of the semaphore 15 will be actuated to draw the armature 42 from the lever 43. This lever will then drop to actuate the semaphorearm 48 and at the same time close the circuit 52 through the lamp 54. The operation of the signal-station 17 is like that of the station 16 and needs no separate description.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a device by means of which my signal may be used on any portion of a railway-track to give warning when the rails have spread. Between the rails 10 are secured a suitable number of tubes 72. These tubes 72 are secured to the base of the rails by means of padlocks 73, which also hold ends of a wire 74, which are connected to an automatic circuit-closing switch '75, similar to the switches 22 and 23, hereinbefore described. The springs of this switch 75 are connected to wires 76 and 77. The wires 76 and 77 of the various switches 75 are connected to the wires 7 8 and 7 9, one of which is attached to the wire 36, leading to the semaphore 14c, and the other to the ground-wire 37. It will be evident that whenever the rails spread one of the switches 75 will be actuated to close the connection between the wire 36 and the ground-wire 37. The signals will be operated in the same manner as above described.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the form and construction of my signal device without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the form shown and described except where so specifically stated in the claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an electric signal device, the combination with a railway-track, of a semaphore, a signal-station, an automatic circuit-closing device in line with said semaphore and signalstation for closing the circuit through the same when said track is injured, and means for cutting said signal-station out of said circuit.

2. In an electric signal device, the combination with a railway-track, of a semaphore, an automatic circuit-closing device in line with said semaphore for closing the circuit through the same when said track is injured, a second semaphore, and automatic means carried by said first-named semaphore for aphore.

3. In an electric signal device, the combination with a railway-track, of a semaphore, an automatic circuitclosing device in line with said semaphore for'closing the circuit through the same when said track is injured, a semaphore-arm, means for moving'said' arm by the closing of said circuit, an electric lamp carried by said semaphore, and means for closing the circuit through said lamp, said means being operated by the passage of the current through said semaphore.

4,. In an electric signal device, the combination with a railway-track, of a signal-station, an automatic circuit-closing device in line with said signal-station forclosing the circuit through the same when said track is injured, a signal in said station, a source of electrical supply, and means for short-circuiting said source of electrical energy through said signal, said means being actuated by the passage of the current through said signalstation.

5. In an electric signal device, the combi' nation with a railway-track, of a semaphore, an arm for said semaphore, gearing for operating said arm, a weighted lever for actuatin g said gearing, means for locking said geare ing, a magnet for releasing said lever and an automatic circuit-closing device for closing the circuit through said magnet when the track is injured.

6. In an electric signal device, the combi nation with a railway-track, of a semaphore, an arm for said semaphore, a weighted lever for moving said arm, amagnet for releasing said lever, an automatic circuit-closing device for closing the circuit through the magnet when said track is injured, a second semaphore, an automatic means for closing the circuit through said second semaphore, said means being operated by the movement of said lever.

7. In an electric signal device, the combination with a railway-track, of a semaphore,

an arm for said semaphore, a weighted lever for moving said arm, a magnet for releasing said lever, an automatic circuit-closingv device for closing the circuit through saidma net when said track is injured, an electric lamp carried by said semaphore, a switch for closingthe circuit through-said lamp, means for closing said switch by the movement of said weighted lever, a second semaphore, and means also actuated by the movement of said,

lever for closing the circuit throughsaid second semaphore. i

8. In an electric signal device, the combi= nation with a railway-track, of a signal, a circuit leading through said signal, a casing, a pair of contact-springs carried by said casing, one of said springsbeingconnectedto each side of the circuit, a member for electrically connecting said contact-springs, and means for moving said springs and member relatively when the track is injured.

9. In an electric signal device, the combi- I springs and member relatively when the track 10 nation with a railway-track, of a signal, a circuit leading through said signal, a pair of casings, two contact-springs in each of said casings, one spring in each casingbeing connected to one side of the circuit, and the other spring to the other side of the circuit, members for electrically connecting the said pairs of springs, and means for moving said is injured.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in the presence 01": the two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. HOOVER. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. WALKER, JAMES W. LUMPKIN. 

